SPIKE is once again getting ready to welcome delegates and performing artists to the ancient city of Plovdiv (EU Capital of Culture 2019) between 25-27 May, 2023. With an expanded program featuring delegates from over 15 countries and over 30 performances from artists coming from as far Canada and Japan, SPIKE is an international music industry hub where talent and ambition will have a chance to acquire new skills, opportunities, and partners.
“We have seen a 100% increase in delegate registration and more than threefold increase in artist applications,” reports founder Boyan Robert Pinter. “We take this is a sign from the music and professional community that have managed to provide the educational and networking opportunities that we set out to do.”
The SPIKE artist showcase will continue to take place across several locations, including the Temple Bar, Bezistenа, and Rock Bar Download, with a special selection of artists performing at the ancient ruins of the Roman Stadium Plovdiv. Most of the ancient stadium is buried underneath the main street of downtown Plovdiv. This year SPIKE will add Bar Fabric to the list of venues, where amazing international talent from Ukraine, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, and Bulgaria will be featured.
The Conference program will focus on music studio production, management, sustainability of festivals, digital distribution, rights management and exploitation, presentations of companies and services, and a round table on heavy metal music. Overarching themes will be mental health and addictions in the music industry, and revenue streams for developing artists and labels.
Sound Engineer and Producer Lennart Östlund will sit down for a conversation with Peter Åstedt (Future Echoes) where he will candidly talk about the hundreds of records he cut at Polar Studios, including ABBA, Led Zeppelin, Roxette, Chic, The Rolling Stones, Rammstein and Genesis. Attendees will uncover just how the stories and sounds that originated at Polar Studios during Lennart’s tenure helped shape the face (and sound) of the music industry across the globe.
Saving the best for last, legendary manager and raconteur Ed Bicknell will sit down for a keynote interview during which he’ll explore his extraordinary career with SPIKE founder Boyan Pinter sitting opposite.
Ed Bicknell will also take part in a panel presented by Drive Foundation Canada, which will discuss the topic of mental health and addictions in the music industry. Joining Mr. Bicknell on this panel will representatives of Drive Foundation Canada and mental health professionals to provide local context to this issue of growing concern.
“We are extremely grateful that Ed Bicknell will be with us for the 2023 edition of SPIKE. We believe that his stories and career can amuse and entertain, but also greatly instruct and inspire our attendees. His knowledge and experience will be an extremely valuable addition to our focus on mental health and addictions in the music industry.”
SPIKE Bulgarian music showcase is supported by the Plovdiv 2019 Foundation, Drive Foundation Canada, Believe Music, EMG Canada, Horus Music, PanHarmony, and Blue Hills Events. Media partnerships include the Bulgarian National Radio, Bloomberg TV, Bulgarian ON AIR, and Marica Plovdiv.
There will be plenty for new and returning delegates to discover at SPIKE, as they immerse themselves in the history, culture, and laid-back spirit of ancient Plovdiv.
Learn more about SPIKE at https://spikeshowcase.com/ and their social media channels. Delegate applications will remain open until April 30th, 2023.